The best stains I ever came across, that don't smear, are the gel-stains.
Wipe on generously and then use a clean cloth to wipe off the excess.
Nothing to be worried about...plain, simple - it works. I use Varathane
Gel-Stain and have tried it in several shades .....they all work great and
on any wood I've tried. Of course, no matter what you use, Maple simply
doesn't want to go dark, by staining!

One of the Fine Woodworking issues has an article on gel-staining - a search
would find it.

Keith